GTranslate

The Sealed Nectar

The Prophet’s Justice

Justice is a noble moral and a magnificent characteristic which is attractive to people, infuses hope in the hearts of the wronged, and for which the unjust pay utmost concern.

By virtue of justice, matters return to their normal and right path, rights are returned to their owners, people are happy and life is rectified. Welfare is present as long as there is justice, and as long as justice is absent people will be miserable.

Justice is a moral of those who are great, a feature of those who are pious, the want of the righteous and the way to success for believers in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. Justice was constituent in the character of the prophets, the righteous, leaders, mentors and above all the seal of the messengers, the master of humans, Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) enjoyed the greatest share of it.

Justice was an aspect of the great character of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) who practiced it before Allah The Almighty himself in his dealings with others, relatives and those who were not, his friends, antagonists and even his stubborn enemies. How could not he be fair having had Allah The Almighty address him in the verse that says (what means): {O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do} [Quran 5:8]

Therefore the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) obeyed the orders of Allah in all of his affairs, adopting justice with his Companions and enemies.

He would never deny anyone justice, despite those who objected to him and showed an unfavorable attitude towards him. He would rather forgive them, as in this story. Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "While he was in Yemen, ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, sent a gold-nugget to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) who consequently divided it among four persons: Al-Aqra ‘Ibn Haabis Al-Hanthali, ‘Uyaynah ibn Badr Al-Fazaari, ‘Alqamah ibn ‘Ulaathah Al-‘Aamiri, a man from Banu Kilaab, and Zaydul-Khayr At-Taa'I, a man from Banu Nabhaan, may Allah be pleased with them. Thereupon, the Qurayshis got angry because the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) bestowed gifts on the chiefs of Najd and ignored them. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) justified this action by saying that he favored them to stimulate their hearts. Afterwards, a man with a thick beard, prominent cheekbones, hollow eyes, a domed forehead and a shaved head came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) telling him to fear Allah. Thereupon the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said, “Who then would obey Allah if I disobeyed Him? Does Allah the Almighty entrust me with your affairs on earth while you do not?" “[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Such great character is clearly highlighted in a most beautiful manner when the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) asked a person to seek retaliation from himself. Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: "While the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was dividing something among people, a man came and attached himself to him. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) slapped him with a date stalk. The man went out and the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) called him to retaliate. However, he told the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) that he had forgiven him." [An-Nasaa'i]

Moreover the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) always showed justice and hated to be distinguished from his Companions. Instead he loved equality and endured difficulties from them. Ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: "On the day of the battle of Badr, every three persons would ride on one camel in turns. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) had to do so with his two companions: Abu Lubaabah and ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with them. When it was the turn of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) to walk, the two Companions offered to walk instead of him. However he refused and said that they were not stronger than him, and he was in need of Allah’s reward just as they were in need of it." [Ahmad]

Practicing justice within the context of his family was not brought to a halt when the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was occupied with directing the affairs of the state or being engaged in battles. He used to apportion among his wives, invoking Allah The Almighty not to blame him for special love or affection paid to certain wives. This is according to a Hadeeth narrated by At-Tirmithi, but it is judged as weak.

‘Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said, "If the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) wanted to set out on a journey, he would draw lots among his wives so that one of them would accompany him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, "A wife of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) sent to him food in a bowl as a gift. However ‘Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, hit the bowl so the food fell out and the bowl broke. Therefore, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "The spilled food has to be compensated for by other [food], and the broken bowl has to be compensated by another." [At-Tirmithi- Hasan and Al-Bukhari (with different wording)]

In passing judgment among quarrelling persons, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was perfectly fair and never committed any injustice. Haraam ibn Muhayyisah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated on the authority of his father that a female-camel belonged to Al-Baraa' ibn ‘Aazib, may Allah be pleased with him, entered a garden belonging to a man and caused damage there. Thus the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) judged that protection of property was the responsibility of its owners during the daytime and the owners of cattle had to keep them during night. This is according to a Hadeeth narrated by Ahmad.

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) did not approve suspension of the prescribed punishment set by Allah The Almighty to administer justice among people, even if the criminal was his relative or favorite. When a woman from Banu Makhzoom tribe committed theft, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) rejected the intercession of Usaamah, may Allah be pleased with him, for her and said his famous words: "O people, what led to destruction of the nations preceding you was their acquittal of the noble person if he committed theft and infliction of the punishment on the weak if he committed theft. By Allah, if Faatimah the daughter of Muhammad committed theft I would cut her hand off." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Also the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) used to order his Companions to administer justice in all matters and to achieve balance. Addressing ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibnul-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "O ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr, I have been informed that you observe daily fasting and perform voluntary night prayers the whole night. Do not do so, for your body, your eyes and your wife have due rights upon you." [Muslim]

Through this noble character, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) could draw people's attention to him, stimulate feelings towards his sublime principles and set a unique method for the best nation - the Muslims - who guide all humanity to observe justice and through which they obliterate oppression and injustice.